Eat | Los Angeles

It should be noted that all credit for the incredible places that I enjoyed in LA goes to Alessandra, a native Southern Californian and my adorable friend + health foodie. Thank you, thank you beeb!

The Springs - arts district, downtown los angeles

THIS place is every modern-day wellness enthusiast's dream come true. This open space is comprised of a café with coffees, nut milks, pastries, and salads in the front; an Anthropolgie-esque store in the middle; a nutrition counseling space off to the right; and a yoga studio all the way in the back (complete with a section to purchase athleisure, essential oils, and crystals, of course!).

According to Southern Californians, this is the "most original LA" place in town. I loved it. You can choose between dim lighting and wooden tables indoors, or cute patio seating with lots of plants and heat lamps outdoors. Between three of us, we enjoyed: pizza, Moroccan mint tea with honey (the tea comes in a cast-iron pot thing), chocolate fudge cake, kale salad with a side of bread, and chili.

SUN life organics - manhattan beach

I was going to get a smoothie because my friend was raving about how thick and creamy Sun Life's are, but we had just eaten breakfast. So, we got dessert instead. Obviously.

This dark chocolate espresso caramel was so badass that I'd go back to Los Angeles just for it. It was fudge-y, dense, and rich. My favorite kind of chocolate treat!

Sun Life is really cool in that they sell a lot of trendy health goods, such as Bulletproof bars, coconut yogurt and kefir, kombucha, and nut butters....but! It doesn't stop there. They also make delicious lunches and smoothies. I got their house-made pesto pepita wrap to take with me to the airport, and WAS IT flavorful. 'd highly recommend it!!

image source: http://thekettle.net/photos.html

The Kettle - Manhattan Beach

We ate at The Kettle for breakfast, but it's open 24 hours a day! Whaaaat? It's a down-to-earth, diner-style feel with patio seating and big, cozy wooden booths. I enjoyed poached eggs with veggies, toast, and breakfast potatoes, and we shared an INCREDIBLE honey bran muffin (the one on the left in this photo!). They bake them fresh at 4/5AM every morning.

Malibu Farm - malibu, california

If you don't want to wait in line, I recommend getting here early. But if you do get stuck in line, trust that the wait is worth your time.

This breakfast was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed a creamy AF matcha latte with almond milk, and then quinoa oatmeal made with coconut milk, chia seeds, and berries.

Malibu Farm, with its beach cottage vibe, endless plants, and black and white tiled floors, lives right on the pier, next to the beach. They source sustainable, fresh, and local produce. I wanted everything on the menu. It's kind of a no-brainer to come here. If you're in the Los Angeles area, you won't regret the decision to come here one bit!

Kippy's Icecream - santa monica

Chocolate ice-cream with chocolate dip. This used to be my go-to order, and it was always satisfying in the moment...and then I'd have a terrible stomachache for the rest of the night. Yikes.

Kippy's, a hippie-esque, entirely dairy-free and environmentally-conscious ice-cream shop in Santa Monica, makes my favorite ice-cream order possible again! I got this double chocolate ice-cream made from coconut milk and added chocolate dip. When I asked what the chocolate shell was made out of, my jaw dropped. Coconut oil, honey, and cacao powder.

THIS place is heaven. It's 10000% better than any Pressed Freeze you'll ever have -- I promise ;-)